Salaries for Williamson County government officials and employees are set to go up amid national inflation concerns.
On July 26, Commissioners Court approved authorizing written notice to each elected official of their salary and other compensation to be included in the 2022- 23 budget to be adopted at the end of the year. The move would include a 5% pay increase for elected officials, and a 5% increase for all county employees was discussed during the meeting as well.
“It’s no secret that we are in a time of inflation that we have not seen in about 40 years,” said Rebecca Clemons, Williamson County human resources director.
The pay raises are classified as cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs). COLAs are increases in pay based on data of rising costs for goods and services.
“What we normally do every summer, we look at kind of the inflation over the previous year, and then I make a recommendation for COLA and merit increases based on that,” said Clemons. “Our salary study process that we’re in help us to ensure that our salary grade chart is staying competitive for our new hires. It does not affect the salaries of current employees unless they are below the minimums of where their grades move to.”
Precinct 4 Commissioner Russ Boles was in favor of the pay increase as county offices evolve.
“There are some elected officials that manage many, many employees, and those offices are changing rapidly in how they manage them — Tax Assessor-Collector, Sheriff’s Office, County Attorney,” said Boles. “I just know that those positions and their duties are changing.
Clemons said that the adjustments were made with some caution.
“I do want to be mindful of the balance of giving employees increases with the cost of living and the increase of costs that are going, but we also want to be very cautious because at some point, it’s going to fall,” said Clemons, “and those numbers will start to decline again and we want to make sure that we aren’t in this situation where we have to make salary cuts or layoffs or something like that, like what happened in 2008, 2009 and 2010.”
However, Clemons added Williamson County salaries for elected officials was the under the market when compared to neighboring counties and would like further study. County Judge Gravell wasn’t completely swayed to increase salaries solely based on competitiveness.
“Elected officials know what they get paid when they take the job and when you’re in this position, you’re here to serve the people of Williamson County,” said Gravell. “Doesn’t make a dadgum bit of difference what the Travis County judge makes or Burnet County makes. It doesn’t matter to me. I’m here elected by the people and to put us into the salary study I just think is unnecessary. It’s about the employees, and that’s just my opinion.”
Still, Gravell said he understood Boles’ and others’ points on losing quality employees.
“I remember one clearly, Bobby Gutierrez, who left our employment and went to work for Travis County as a chief deputy and made immensely more there,” said Gravell, “so there are to your point there are some elected officials that they could or will relocate for better salaries. Perhaps we should consider that.”
A public hearing on county budget for the2022-23 fiscal year is set for Aug. 30 at 10 a.m. at the Commissioners Courtroom, 710 Main St. in Georgetown.
Law enforcement raises
On June 28, Commissioners Court approved a 5% increase in pay for all law enforcement officers in the 2022-2023 fiscal year budget, plus an additional 1-5% increase for all tenured staff, for an average increase of approximately 7%. County law enforcement officers are employed in the Sheriff’s Office, constables’ offices, District Attorney’s office, Corrections and County Attorney’s Office.
“Since I have been in office, we made a strong commitment to support law enforcement,” said Gravell. “We have provided the proper tools and resources, and now, the best compensation in the region when you include benefits and retirement.”
County law enforcement salaries have had three COLA increases for a total of 11% since October 2018, in addition to their approximate 2% yearly increase for tenure. Corrections employees have had three COLA increases in that same time for a total of 21%.
In June 2021, the tenure step chart was changed, and annual tenure increases range from 5% for the starting base salary to 1% for 10 years or more of tenure in order to create a higher paying career path with increases at a faster rate. “There’s probably
“There’s probably not a more challenging time to be in law enforcement, and I thank all the men and women who do serve in that role for what they do,“ said Precinct 2 Commissioner, Cynthia Long. “We appreciate all the sacrifices that you make, and I think this is the right step to take.”
All law enforcement and corrections employees will increase one step on the tenure chart on Oct. 1 if they have been employed at Williamson County for one year.
